With the February half term approaching you may well be wondering what to plan for a day out in Manchester. The Museum of Science and Industry is such a wonderful place, spread across several buildings, in which to spend the day and the hours will simply wile away as you marvel at all the fabulous things to see and do. Admission into the museum is free, however some attractions may carry a small admission charge.

This February half term, visitors can travel back to the Victorian era to find out how Steam, Sweat and Spinners created our modern world, and how Manchester was at the start of it all.

With fun shows and workshops daily over the whole holiday period, Steam, Sweat and Spinners is our annual celebration of all things Victorian and beyond:

Science Showdown: Revolutions

11.30am and 13.30pm

Recommended for ages 5 and older

Whether it’s wheels or people, Revolutions have changed our world. This show pits the digital against the Industrial and asks which one has changed our lives the most with action-packed experiments, amazing demonstrations, and more than a few laughs.

Victorian Fairground

10.00am–17.00pm daily

£2 per person, per ride

Various age restrictions apply

Roll up, roll up and take a spin on our Victorian Fairground. Whiz around the helter skelter, win at Hook-A-Duck, and ride a magical carousel horse. Families can have even more fun of the fair when they book ahead and get 6 ride tickets for the price of 5.

Curious Cams

11.00am, 11.30am, 12.00pm, and 12.30pm

Recommended for ages 7 and older

Free, but booking required at the Front Desk

Everything will go like clockwork at this tinkering inspired workshop where families can make their own mechanical toy to take home.

Dizzy Drawings

14.30pm-16.30pm

Recommended for ages 4 and older

Can you get the birdy in the cage? Try it by making this Victorian optical illusion toy that uses spin to fool the eye and create a little bit of magic in this fun and easy drop-in workshop.

Victorian Photo Booth

10.00am-17.00pm

Suitable for all ages

Strike a pose and Victorianise yourself in our photobooth. From bonnets to beards, put your best handlebar forward and see what you would have looked like on the fashionable streets of Victorian Manchester.

Power Packs for Early Years Engineers

14.00pm daily

Toddlers aged 2–4

Do you have a budding engineer in your family? Pick up a Power Pack from the front desk and meet one of our friendly Explainers in the Power Hall for a tour to help little people explore our giant engines and trains.

There are also our daily Engine Demonstrations and Manchester Mills Demonstrations that give everyone a feel for what it was like to work and live in Victorian Manchester.

And families can pick up People Power Trading Cards – collecting a different card featuring a worker or inventor at each activity and discover who’s the sweatiest of them all (eww!)

Plus, on 24 and 25 February, we’ll welcome a group of working steam traction engines – the kind that helped build our cities and roads. Lovingly restored, these impressive machines are guaranteed to give the wow factor.

Half term is also a great opportunity to visit the museum’s blockbuster exhibition, Robots https://www.msimanchester.org.uk/whats-on/robots. It features more than 100 robots, including interactive bots and Hollywood stars. The Robots activity trail, suitable for children aged 5 to 11, features drawing activities, talking points and an object hunt. Tickets for Robots cost £8 adults/£5 children/free for age 6 and under. Ask for a free copy of the Robots activity trail at the ticket desk when booking.

Admission to the museum is free. All Steam, Sweat and Sewers activities are free apart from the Victorian Fairground.